The metabolic syndrome and its components in 178 patients treated for craniopharyngioma after 16 years of follow-up.

Objective: Patients with craniopharyngioma are at an increased risk for cardio- and cerebrovascular mortality. The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important cardiometabolic risk factor, but barely studied in patients with craniopharyngioma. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for the MetS and its components in patients with craniopharyngioma.

Design: Cross-sectional study with retrospective data.

Methods: We studied the prevalence of and risk factors for the MetS and its components in 110 Dutch (median age 47 years, range 18-92) and 68 Swedish (median age 50 years, range 20-81) patients with craniopharyngioma with ≥3 years of follow-up (90 females (51%); 83 patients with childhood-onset craniopharyngioma (47%); median follow-up after craniopharyngioma diagnosis 16 years (range 3-62)). In Dutch patients aged 30-70 years and Swedish patients aged 45-69 years, we examined the prevalence of the MetS and its components relative to the general population.

Results: Sixty-nine (46%) of 149 patients with complete data demonstrated the MetS. Prevalence of the MetS was significantly higher in patients with craniopharyngioma compared with the general population (40% vs 26% ( < 0.05) for Dutch patients; 52% vs 15% ( < 0.05) for Swedish patients). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified visual impairment as a borderline significant predictor of the MetS (OR 2.54, 95% CI 0.95-6.81;  = 0.06) after adjustment for glucocorticoid replacement therapy and follow-up duration. Age, female sex, tumor location, radiological hypothalamic damage, Yttrium brachytherapy, glucocorticoid replacement therapy and follow-up duration significantly predicted components of the MetS.

Conclusions: Patients with craniopharyngioma are at an increased risk for the MetS, especially patients with visual impairment.